At the age of 83, Sherman Lewis, who previously served as the offensive coordinator for the Detroit Lions, has died.
In his last year of college, the former Michigan State Spartans halfback (1961–1963) came in third in the Heisman Trophy competition.
He was also a first-team All-American during a fantastic 1963 season in which he ran for 577 yards on 90 attempts. With 11 receptions for 303 yards, he led the Spartans in receiving.
He worked briefly in the professional world after his college career, including stints with the New York Jets of the American Football League and the Canadian Football League.
Lewis was an assistant coach at Michigan State University from 1969 to 1982. Lewis was hired by Bill Walsh to be the team’s running backs coach.
Lewis won three Super Bowls while playing for the NFC West’s top team.
Lewis was never selected as a head coach in the National Football League, even though he played for four Super Bowl winning teams.
From 2003 to 2004, he served as the Lions’ offensive coordinator.
On the Michigan State website, it states that Lewis broadcast Michigan State football games on the Spartan Media Network with George Blaha in the 2005 season following his coaching retirement in 2004. Since graduating, Lewis has excelled in both on- and off-the-field activities, and in 2002 he was awarded the Duffy Daugherty Award, which is given out every year to an MSU football graduate who has excelled in his endeavors.
Lewis was honored in the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Awards of Excellence Class of 2023 at a ceremony in Canton on June 28, 2023, marking the conclusion of his illustrious coaching career. Major contributors to the game are recognized in five categories by the Award of Excellence program, including assistant coaches.
The four-time Super Bowl champion thought about his coaching career in 2015 and the fact that he never had the chance to lead his own NFL club.
According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Lewis stated that we won Super Bowls in San Francisco and Green Bay. And I had the opportunity to collaborate with some talented players and coaches. Without a doubt I would have loved the opportunity to be a head coach. However, in retrospect, I gave it my all. I was let down, but I’m not going to dwell on it. It was a pleasure for me to coach in the NFL during a wonderful career.
